Blackwater founder and Holland native Erik Prince has moved to Abu Dhabi, according to court documents.

Prince last year severed ties with the security firm, which had long been the public face of controversy over the military's use of private defense contractors. He later put the company up for sale. Now, the separation is a bit more physical.

Current and former colleagues said Mr. Prince hoped to focus on security work from governments in Africa and the Middle East. They also said he was bitter about the legal scrutiny and negative publicity his company had received.

"He needs a break from America," said one colleague, speaking only on the condition of anonymity about Mr. Prince's long-rumored move.

While Prince himself does not face criminal charges, prosecution looms for other Blackwater executives, guards and affiliates on weapons, conspiracy, obstruction and murder for various incidents. Most notoriously, five Blackwater guards were investigated for the shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians in 2007.

News of Prince's move came from a court filing last week in a civil lawsuit that accused him of defrauding the government, and, according to the Times, Prince hoped to avoid giving a deposition because of his new residence.